Seedless table grape (grapevine) named ‘Itumseventeen’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of grapevine named of ‘Itumseventeen’ is herein disclosed. ‘Itumseventeen’ abundantly forms medium sized light green to yellow colored berries with an attractive broad ellipsoid berry shape, a Muscat flavor and a firm berry texture. Being mid-season variety, the fruit commonly is ready for harvesting in from July to early September in Blanca, Murcia, Spain. ‘Itumseventeen’ displays good eating qualities as a table grape, the fruit meatiness and firmness render the fruit amenable for handling, shipping, and storage.

Latin name of the genus and species: Vitis vinifera.

Variety denomination: ‘ITUMSEVENTEEN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A breeding program was initiated during 2003 at a research nursery inBlanca, Murcia, Spain. During the development of this breeding program,a new variety of Vitis vinifera was created by deliberate cross breedingof two parent plants by emasculation of the pollen bearing organ of thefemale and introducing pollen from another male origin. The femaleparent of the new variety is ‘ITUM-150-242’, an unpatented proprietaryselection. The male parent (i.e. the pollen parent) of the new varietyis ‘Superior’, unpatented.

‘Itumseventeen’ was identified as a potentially interesting selectionduring 2014 at the same location in Murcia, Spain. After identifying thenew variety as a potentially interesting selection, first propagation of‘Itumseventeen’ by vegetative cuttings was undertaken during 2015, atthe research nursery in Murcia, Spain. Controlled testing andpropagation of the new variety continued, to assess stability of theunique characteristics of this variety. Subsequently, severalgenerations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique featuresof this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type No commercialsales occurred before the filing of the US plant patent application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Itumseventeen’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The new variety‘Itumseventeen’ is a yellow to light green seedless table grape withmedium production and a high fertility index “1, 6”. In addition to thebefore mentioned characteristics, the following traits have beenrepeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristicsof ‘Itumseventeen’. These characteristics in combination distinguish‘Itumseventeen’ as a new and distinct Vitis cultivar:

-   -   1. Medium sized individual fruit with yellow to light green skin        coloration; formed in medium-to-large clusters.    -   2. An attractive broad ellipsoid berry shape.    -   3. A mid-season season variety, commonly bears fruit for        harvesting from July until early September in the region of        Murcia, Spain.    -   4. Firm berry texture.    -   5. Seedless.    -   6. Resistance to cracking.    -   7. Fruit has been found to be suitable for handling and        shipping.    -   8. Observed tolerance of water shortage.    -   9. Observed tolerance for temperatures up to 41° C.    -   10. Muscat flavor profile.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETIES

TABLE 1 Parental A (fem) Characteristic ‘Itumseventeen’ ‘ITUM-150-242’Berry texture Firm Moderately firm Formation of Seeds SeedlessRudimentary Parental B (masc.) Characteristic ‘Itumseventeen’ ‘Superior’Berry Flavor: Muscat Neutral Berry Shape: Broad ellipsoid Ellipsoid

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

TABLE 2 ‘Moscatel de Alejandria’ Characteristic ‘Itumseventeen’(unpatented) Berry Texture Firm Soft Berry Shape Broad ellipsoidEllipsoid Presence of Seeds Seedless Complete ‘Sugarone’ U.S. PlantCharacteristic ‘Itumseventeen’ Pat. 3,106 Berry Shape Broad ellipsoidNarrow ellipsoid

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical samples ofvegetative growth of a 5 year old specimen of the new variety, in coloras nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a colorillustration of this character. Plants were grown in Murcia, Spain.Colors in the photograph may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description below, which accurately describes thecolors of the new Grapevine.

FIG. 1 illustrates a fruit cluster of ‘Itumseventeen’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the trunk of ‘Itumseventeen’.

FIG. 3 illustrates in close up perspective typical foliage of the newvariety, both front and back of the leaf.

FIG. 4 illustrates individual berries.

FIG. 5 illustrates a small test field of fruiting vines.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Some descriptors, when usefulhave been incorporated from UPOV Grape Descriptor Guidelines. Thedescription is based on the observation of plants growing on ‘1103Paulsen’ (not patented) rootstock in clay stony soil conditions in thefields near Blanca, Murcia, Spain. The age of plant described is of 5years, with an average height of 200 cm, a high canopy density, a 300 cmplant spread, a one-year growth rate to reach two meters high and 20 to30 days to initiate roots at approx. 20° C. At observation locationtemperature ranged between 15° C. to 35° C. during the day, and between5° C. to 20° C. during the night.

-   Botanical classification: Vitis vinifera ‘Itumseventeen’.

CANES

-   Characteristics of mature canes:    -   -   Diameter.—1.8 to 2.6 cm.        -   Length.—60 to 70 cm.        -   Color.—Medium light brown (164C RHS).        -   Cross section shape.—Circle.        -   Strength.—Medium.        -   Texture.—Non-pubescent, rough.-   Lenticels:    -   -   Diameter: <0.5 mm.        -   Density.—Few to-moderate.        -   Color.—Medium light brown (164C RHS).-   Internode:    -   -   Length.—8-12 cm; midpoint 10 cm.        -   Pigmentation at internode, dorsal.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange            164C).        -   Pigmentation at internode, ventral.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange            164C).-   Tendril pattern on show: 0,0,0,0,0,1,0 or 0,0,0,0,0,0,1.    -   -   Tendrils forked.—Yes.        -   Tendril texture.—Glabrous.        -   Tendril length.—14 to 18 cm.-   Bud:    -   -   Bud width.—1.1 to 1.2 cm.        -   Bud length.—0.4 cm.        -   Bud shape.—Flattened.        -   Bud color.—Light yellow brown Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161D,            flushed 162D.-   Young shoot:    -   -   Openness of tip.—Open. Anthocyanin not present in Shoot            pigmentation.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Diameter.—0.8 to 1.2 cm.        -   Longitudinal length.—2.0 to 4.0 m; average 2.5 m.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 164D, streaked 165D.        -   Cross section.—Circular.        -   Strength.—Medium.        -   Attitude.—Semi-erect.        -   Bark texture.—Shaggy.        -   Bark color.—Near RHS Greyed-Red 178A streaked 180B.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 15 per cane.        -   Average length.—18 cm.        -   Average width.—18 cm.        -   Overall shape of blade.—Orbicular.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Dentate, teeth approximately 5 to 10 mm in length.            Ratio of length to width about 1:1. Both sides of teeth            straight or slightly convex oneside.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Aspect.—Undulate.        -   Lobes.—3 to 5 very shallow lobes.-   Sinuses:    -   -   Shape of petiolar sinus.—High widened.        -   Shape of base petiolar sinus.—High widened.        -   Depth of petiolar sinus.—1.1 cm.        -   Width of petiolar sinus.—2.2 cm.        -   Shape of upper sinuses.—Low widened.-   Color:    -   -   Immature foliage upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154D            streaked 150D.        -   Immature foliage under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154D            streaked 150D.        -   Mature foliage upper side.—Near RHS Green 137A.        -   Mature foliage under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154C,            anthocyanin coloration not observed.        -   Venation color under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154C,            anthocyanin coloration not observed.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—14 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A) with strong Anthocyanin            presence near base, Red 36C.        -   Texture.—Rough.

FLOWER

-   Flowering period begins around May 6 to 10 in Murcia, Spain.-   Inflorescence when in bud:    -   -   Length.—10 cm.        -   Diameter.—4 cm.        -   Bud color.—Near RHS Green 140B.        -   Bud shape.—conical.        -   Bud size.—About 1 to 2 mm by 1 to 2 mm.-   Individual flower:    -   -   Main time of flowering.—7 days.        -   Size of entire flower (to end of stamens).—0.7 cm.        -   Calyx shape.—Funnel.        -   Calyx size.—15 mm.        -   Calyx color.—Near RHS Green 140B.        -   Calyx apex.—Rounded.        -   Calyx base.—Rounded.        -   Calyx texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Diameter.—7 mm.        -   Quantity per flowering stem.—5.        -   Days lasting on plant.—7 days.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Symmetrical rotate.        -   Length.—0.2 cm.        -   Width.—<0.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Ovate.        -   Base.—Ovate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Soft.        -   Color.—At opening upper surface: Near RHS Green 140B. At            opening lower surface: Near RHS Green 140B. Fully opened            upper Surface: Near RHS Green 140B.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Fruit peduncle length.—75 mm.        -   Fruit peduncle width.—5 mm.        -   Angle.—About 70° to the lateral branch.        -   Fruit peduncle strength.—Firm-hard.        -   Fruit peduncle texture.—Soft.        -   Color.—Light green (142D RHS).-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—0.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Angle.—About 70° to center of flower cluster.        -   Strength.—Medium.        -   Texture.—Softly pubescent.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 141C.-   Fragrance: Absent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Number of stamens: 5.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near Yellow 9C.-   Pollen:    -   -   Color.—Near Yellow 8A.-   Quantity: Abundant.-   Pistil:    -   -   Quantity.—1.        -   Length.—0.1 cm.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—<0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143C.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.-   Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.

FRUIT

-   Cluster:    -   -   Average length.—26 cm.        -   Average diameter.—16 cm.        -   Average weigh.—650 grams.        -   Fertility index.—Number of clusters per sprouted buds 1,6.-   Fruit:    -   -   Time of berry ripening.—Ripening begins mid-June.        -   Average length.—2.9 cm.        -   Average diameter.—2.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Broad ellipsoid.        -   Cross-section.—Circular.        -   Color of berry skin.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154D.        -   Color of berry flesh.—Translucent, near White 155B,            anthocyanin coloration not observed.        -   Brix at harvest.—21.        -   Ease of detachment from pedicle.—Difficult, well hooked and            difficult detachment.        -   Thickness of skin.—Thin.        -   Firmness of flesh.—Crunchy and very firm.        -   Particular flavor.—Muscat.        -   Fruit peduncle length.—75 mm.        -   Fruit peduncle width.—5 mm.        -   Fruit peduncle texture.—Firm, hard.        -   Fruit peduncle color.—Near Green 142D.        -   Formation of seeds.—Not present.        -   Productivity.—Average 42,000 kilos per hectare.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to be susceptible nor    resistant to normal diseases and pests of Vitis vinifera.-   Temperature tolerance: Observed growing between 6° C. to 41° C.-   Drought tolerance: Observed to tolerate water shortages during the    dry Summer months of Murcia, Spain without detriment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Vitis grapevinenamed ‘Itumseventeen’ as herein illustrated and described.